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zigzag Definition

zig·zag (zig′zag′)

noun

  1. a series of short, sharp angles or turns in alternate directions, as in a line or course
  2. something characterized by such a series, as a design, path, etc.

Etymology: Fr, prob. < Ger zickzack, redupl. < zacke, a tooth, sharp prong or point

adjective

having the form of a zigzag zigzag stitching

adverb

in a zigzag course

transitive verb, intransitive verb -·zagged′, -·zag′·ging

to move or form in a zigzag

zigzag Synonyms

zigzag

modif.

oblique, inclined, sloping, awry, crooked, thrawn, sinuous, twisted, askew, transverse, diagonal, curved, loxic, bent, crinkled, serrated, falcated, furcal, furcated, jagged, straggling, meandering, devious, erratic, rambling, oscillating, fluctuating, waggling, undulatory, vibratory, indirect, spiral, tortuous; see also angular 1, irregular 4.

Antonyms straight*, parallel, undeviating.

zigzag Usage Examples

Object

  • path: Turn left down the drive to some houses and then zigzag back down the path to the main road.
  • line: Keep things as possible simple, and if possible avoid zigzagging the line from one side of a passageway to the other.

Converse of object

  • have: The first floor on the N side now has big zigzag too.

Preposition: at

  • angle: On the N side even bays one and two have zigzag at r. angles to the wall, i.e. a Late Norman motif.

Adjective modifier

  • big: The first floor on the N side now has big zigzag too.
  • steep: The Coast Path enters the village via a steep zigzag through someone's garden, dropping steeply to the harbor.
  • yellow: Cars are still parking on the yellow zigzags to let kids out.

Modifies a noun

  • path: Instead, continue on the zigzag path crossing a wall then turning left to emerge from the trees via a stile.
  • pattern: Five 100m long trenches were laid out in zigzag pattern from north to south along the area.
  • fashion: In this way, material moves in a zigzag fashion along a beach.
  • line: Please do not enter the school grounds or park on the zigzag lines outside the school.
  • route: We had a rough road for the first hour, having to descend by a zigzag route down a cliff several hundred feet.
  • course: The deer was obviously moving in a zigzag course to escape the shots of hunters.

Modifying Another Word

  • then: Lion then zigzagged to throw out the enemy's range.
  • down: Turn left down the drive to some houses and then zigzag back down the path to the main road.

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • around: Sitting unobtrusively in the county for hours is often more rewarding than zigzagging around for a new tick.
  • down: Built on a series of terraces beneath St. Boniface Down the town's roads zigzag down to the sea past the beautifully planted cascades.
  • up: Heading back from the waterfall, a sloping ledge zigzagged up to a hole in the roof.

Followed by a transitive particle

  • down: Novice: Getting better, can now zigzag down the river.

Noun used with modifier

  • path: The third section is intimidating on approach, a path zigzags through the crag avoiding much of the trouble.